Hairspray

'Precious' star is popular, but that doesn't mean she'll get parts

(Newser) -
Gabourey Sidibe may have been nominated for a best actress Oscar right alongside Hollywood legend Meryl Streep, but industry sources say she’ll need to drop her extra pounds if she wants her star to keep rising. “I'm not saying it's correct, but it's a simple fact that she...
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City takes advantage of native son's sleazy musicals

(Newser) -
Known as a harbor city plagued by gang violence and urban decay, Baltimore is hoping for a Broadway-style makeover—courtesy of John Waters, native son and creator of Hairspray and Cry-Baby. His gleefully trashy films are the inspiration for two cleaned-up musicals now on Broadway, and Baltimore hopes their sparkle...
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Latest Waters musical lacks heart

(Newser) -
Cry-Baby, the latest broadway musical based on a John Waters movie, is tasteless—and not in the good way, writes Ben Brantley in the New York Times. It’s not offensive, it just has no flavor. Its 1950s bad-boy-meets-good-girl premise is tired, and James Snyder can’t match Johnny Depp’...
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Charlie Wilson's War follows with 5

(Newser) -
The WWII-era romance Atonement leads today's Golden Globe nominations with seven, including best drama, best actor, and best actress. Also among the seven drama contenders—there are typically five—are There Will Be Blood, No Country for Old Men, The Great Debaters, American Gangster, Michael Clayton, and Eastern Promises. No ...
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Out-laughs the competition for second week; highest-grossing debut is 'Mr. Bean'

(Newser) -
Movie fans are filling the last week before school starts by going to the flicks their friends liked: “Superbad,” “The Bourne Ultimatum” and “Rush Hour 3” kept drawing them in with the top 3 spots this week. Rowan Atkinson's “Mr. Bean's Holiday” took surprise swipes...
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Studio fires marketing chief, struggles to project identity

(Newser) -
The movie business' sepia-haired stepchild New Line Cinema fired its chief marketing officer this week—signaling that execs are blistering for fundamental change. After 40 years, New Line has lost its cutting-edge credibility to the Indies, and is ranked dead last in box-office revenue among the majors, the LA Times ...
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High-camp movie version charms even the skeptical

(Newser) -
With its cheerfully loony evocation of the 60s, "Hairspray" has scored big with reviewers. "The movie's style and exuberance torpedoed my misgivings within seconds," says the LATimes. The movie-turned-musical-turned-movie is also being praised for its star turns, by a fatsuited John Travolta and plump newcomer Nikki Blonsky....
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